Ask HN: Tips for independent contractor 2014

Good Evening All, I'm 29 and I just became an independent contractor for some .NET and NodeJS work. I'm working in the Chicago suburbs and living in the city, commuting about 60 miles total per day. I have set up an S-Corp, but that's about it thus far. I was wondering what suggestions the community has for someone just starting out. Things I am curious about are best accounting practices (Quickbooks, Xero, LessAccounting?), ways to save money (deductions?), recommended sources for obtaining healthcare, negotiation tips (should rate increase after X months?) and any other things that you may have overlooked when you first started. TL;DR Things I wish I knew before becoming a contractor. Thanks All!